Two weeks after the European elections, the Council of Chairpersons and the Executive Board of the European Left met this weekend in Brussels. It was the occasion to exchange our analysis of the results in the different countries and at European level, to evaluate the campain of the EL, the candidacy of Alexis Tsipras to the Presidency of the European commission and to discuss the necessary political initiatives to take in the coming months.

Since summer 2013, the European Commission is negotiating with the US-administration and the business lobby behind closed doors about the “Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership” (TTIP) . A similar treaty between the EU with Canada, Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is ready to be ratified soon.

The Executive Board of the European Left met in an extraordinary session on Friday, 12 June, mainly to analyse the results of the European elections and discuss ways of cooperation in the new political setting.

This weekend, the European Left held its first Executive Board meeting of 2009 in Berlin. In view of the recent developments, the meeting focused on the dramatic situation in Gaza and a peaceful solution of the conflict. The European Left strongly condemns the Israeli invasion and calls for an immediate ceasefire and total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The EL calls for a mass mobilisation of its member parties in order to support the peace movement for a consequent end of all military activities from both sides.

Following the Executive Board meeting of the European Left Party, which took place in Athens on 11 and 12 October 2008, Lothar Bisky, Chairperson of the European Left and Chair of Die Linke, Alexis Tsipras, President of Synaspismos, and Graziella Mascia, Vice-chair of the European Left, held a press conference about the current financial crisis and proposals discussed within the EL to face the economic insecurity and find solutions to the precarious working and living conditions of the people in the world.

According to the working schedule set at the Executive Board Meeting in Berlin, the EL held its second Executive Board session on 19 and 20 April in Brussels. The main points discussed were the development of the activities in 2008, and the Election Platform, which was presented by EL Chairman Lothar Bisky.